Motherwell 3-0 Inverness CT

Motherwell3 - 0Inverness CT

Motherwell began their Scottish Premier League campaign with a comfortable victory over Inverness Caley Thistle.

Steven Hammell volleyed the Steelmen in front on 25 minutes and Jamie Murphy soon doubled the hosts' advantage with a cool finish.

Inverness twice hit the frame of the Well goal in the first half, with Richie Foran and Greg Tansey foiled.

And Motherwell rounded off their win with an excellent Keith Lasley strike on 77 minutes.

Murphy, understood to be the interest of Tottenham, Wolves, Stoke, West Brom and Birmingham scouts in the stand, was first to threaten after playing a one-two with Michael Higdon and slipping a shot wide.

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Higdon's physical presence was proving to be a nuisance to Inverness and the big striker set up fellow summer signing Nicky Law for a shot, but the midfielder was off target.

The visitors came into the match and, after Gregory Tade fired over, Richie Foran struck the base of the Motherwell post from the edge of the box.

Tade then set up Foran for a shot that he could not keep down.

Stuart McCall's side regained the initiative and Chris Humphrey's cross was flicked on by Higdon to Hammell, who fired home with the aid of a post.

Murphy stretched Motherwell's lead after latching on to Law's incisive pass and slotting the ball past goalkeeper Ryan Esson.

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The Highlanders searched for a route back into the match and Tansey's free-kick rattled Darren Randolph's goal before the midfielder was denied by the Motherwell keeper.

The second period was a more sedate affair, Law's shot over the top of the Inverness goal one of the few chances created.

Murphy's pace and trickery continued to be a thorn in the visitors' side and the Scotland Under-21 international flashed a shot wide after tormenting Aldred.

However, it was from the boot of experienced midfielder Lasley that Motherwell put the seal on their win, the former Plymouth player finding the top left-hand corner from 30 yards.

Live text and stats

Saturday, 23 July 2011

Scottish Premier

Home Team

Score

Away Team

Time

Motherwell

3-0

Inverness CT

FT

(HT 2-0)

Hammell 25

Murphy 28

Lasley 77

Motherwell

01 Randolph

03 Hammell

05 Craigan

15 Hutchinson yellow card

04 Law

06 Hateley

07 Humphrey

08 Jennings yellow card

14 Lasley yellow card

09 Higdon (Smith 83)

11 Murphy

Substitutes

12 Hollis,

02 Saunders,

23 Halsman,

26 Carswell,

16 McHugh,

19 Smith,

25 Lawleff

Inverness CT

01 Esson

03 Tokely

14 Proctor

20 Aldred

22 Gillet

07 Hayes

08 Tansey

10 Shinnie (Sutherland 62)

11 Ross

09 Foran yellow card

15 Tade (Shinnie 81)

Substitutes

12 Tuffey,

19 Shinnie,

17 Morrison,

29 Laing,

30 Smith,

18 Sutherland

Ref: Steven McleanAtt: 4,190

MOTHERWELL

INVERNESS CT

Possession

Motherwell51%

Inverness CT49%

Attempts on target

Motherwell7

Inverness CT2

Attempts off target

Motherwell5

Inverness CT9

Corners

Motherwell5

Inverness CT6

Fouls

Motherwell12

Inverness CT12

Final Result

Full Time

90:00+2:13 The referee ends the match.

89:57 Short corner taken by Tom Hateley. Short corner taken by Tom Hateley.

82:33 Long range shot by Jonathan Hayes goes wide right of the net.

82:33 Substitution Gary Smith is brought on as a substitute for Michael Higdon.

80:02 Substitution Graeme Shinnie on for Gregory Tade.

79:10 Free kick awarded for a foul by Nicky Law on Gregory Tade. Free kick taken by Jonathan Hayes.

78:47 Short corner worked by Nicky Law.

77:51 Kenny Gillet concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Murphy. Direct free kick taken by Stevie Hammell.

76:22 GOAL - Keith Lasley:Motherwell 3 - 0 Inverness CT A goal is scored by Keith Lasley from 30 yards to the top left corner of the goal. Motherwell 3-0 Inverness CT.

75:47 Tom Hateley takes a outswinging corner.

74:23 Jonathan Hayes takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Tom Hateley. Inswinging corner taken by Jonathan
Hayes, Shaun Hutchinson manages to make a clearance. Short corner taken by Richie Foran.

73:16 Effort from inside the area by Jamie Murphy misses to the left of the target.

17:22 Richie Foran produces a drilled left-footed shot from just outside the box that bounces off the post. Short corner taken by
Jonathan Hayes. Corner taken by Jonathan Hayes played to the near post, Stevie Hammell manages to make a clearance. Free kick
awarded for a foul by Greg Tansey on Nicky Law. Darren Randolph takes the direct free kick.

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